In just a few short weeks the blooms have completely cycled out and now the orchard is beginning to fill with almonds.  As the almonds mature they push through the calyx and it drops to the ground.  The leaves are forming rapidly and spreading out to grab as much sunlight as possible.

It is the leaves that do most of the work in the orchard.  From sunrise to sunset they collect sunlight and convert it from radiant to chemical energy- a form the tree can use.  After several months of producing energy to store in the nut, the tree will redirect it to next year’s buds and it’s roots in preparation for the next crop.  But, for now, this tree is focused entirely on maturing it’s young fruit.